Controlling the output voltage of a power supply involve determining a remote load coupled to the power supply and setting the output voltage based on the determined remote load and a predetermined maximum current for the power supply. The remote load may be measured, for example, by applying a predetermined current to the load, measuring the voltage across the load, and computing the effective load (resistance) value based on the supplied current and the measured voltage. Such measurement may be done using an analog-to-digital converter.
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1. A converter for controlling an output voltage of a power supply, the converter comprising: a measuring circuit; and a controller in communication with the measuring circuit, the controller configured to determine a first remote load resistance value for a remote load coupled to the converter based on a first known current output applied to the remote load and measurements received from the measuring circuit, compute a first desired output voltage of the power supply based on the first determined remote load resistance value and a predetermined maximum current, and set the output voltage of the power supply to the first desired output voltage, the controller further configured to determine a second remote load resistance value for the remote load coupled to the converter based on a second known current output applied to the remote load and measurements received from the measuring circuit, compute a second desired output voltage of the power supply based on the second determined remote load resistance value and the predetermined maximum current, and set the output voltage of the power supply to the second desired output voltage, such that the output voltage of the power supply is changed based on a change of remote load resistance value of the remote load.
A converter controls a power supply's output voltage by measuring the resistance of a remote load. It applies a known current to the load, measures the resulting voltage, and calculates the load resistance. Based on this resistance and a pre-set maximum current for the power supply, the converter computes a desired output voltage. It then sets the power supply to this voltage. If the load resistance changes, the converter repeats the process, adjusting the output voltage accordingly. This ensures the power supply adapts to changing load conditions, maintaining a stable and appropriate voltage level.
2. A converter according to claim 1 , further comprising a current source, wherein the controller is configured to cause the current source to apply a known current to the remote load and to determine the remote load resistance value based on the known current and voltage measurements received from the measuring circuit.
The converter described in Claim 1 includes a current source to apply the known current to the remote load. The controller then calculates the remote load resistance using the known current from the current source and the voltage measurements received from the measuring circuit. So, instead of relying on an existing current, the converter has its own dedicated current source for more accurate load resistance determination. This enables precise calculation of the desired power supply output voltage.
3. A converter according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to provide measurement values to the controller.
The converter described in Claim 1 uses an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) within its measuring circuit. This ADC converts the analog voltage measurements from the remote load into digital values that the controller can process. This digital conversion enables the controller to accurately determine the load resistance and calculate the appropriate power supply output voltage.
4. A converter according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring circuit is configured to provide voltage measurements to the controller.
In the converter described in Claim 1, the measuring circuit is designed to specifically provide voltage measurements from the remote load to the controller. This focuses the measuring circuit's functionality on voltage sensing, enabling the controller to perform the load resistance calculation and adjust the power supply's output accordingly.
5. A converter according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring circuit is configured to provide load resistance values to the controller.
In the converter described in Claim 1, the measuring circuit directly provides calculated load resistance values to the controller, instead of just voltage or current measurements. This simplifies the controller's task, as it receives the load resistance directly and only needs to compute the desired output voltage based on this resistance and the pre-set maximum current.
6. A converter according to claim 1 , further comprising the power supply.
The converter described in Claim 1 is part of a larger system that also includes the power supply itself. The converter actively controls the output voltage of this power supply by measuring the remote load's resistance, calculating the desired output voltage, and then adjusting the power supply to match that voltage.
7. A converter according to claim 6 , wherein the power supply includes a DC-DC converter.
In the system from Claim 6, the power supply is a DC-DC converter. The converter described in Claim 1 controls the output voltage of this DC-DC converter by measuring the remote load resistance, calculating the desired output voltage, and setting the DC-DC converter to that level.
8. A converter according to claim 6 , wherein the power supply includes a power regulator.
In the system from Claim 6, the power supply is a power regulator. The converter from Claim 1 manages the output voltage of this power regulator based on measurements of the remote load, ensuring the regulator provides the appropriate voltage level for the connected device.
9. A converter according to claim 6 , wherein the measuring circuit, the controller, and the power supply are on a single chip.
In the system from Claim 6, the measuring circuit, the controller, and the power supply are integrated onto a single chip. This integration reduces size, improves efficiency, and potentially lowers cost by combining all the key components of the power supply control system onto one piece of silicon.
10. A converter according to claim 1 , wherein setting the output voltage of the power supply includes storing a value used to control the power supply.
In the converter described in Claim 1, setting the power supply output voltage involves storing a specific value that is then used to control the power supply's operation. This stored value acts as the target voltage setting, allowing the converter to effectively manage the power supply's output based on the calculated load resistance.
11. A converter according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to repeatedly re-determine the remote load resistance value and set the output voltage of the power supply based on the re-determined remote load resistance value.
The converter described in Claim 1 continuously monitors and adjusts the power supply's output voltage. The controller repeatedly re-determines the remote load resistance and resets the output voltage of the power supply based on these updated resistance values. This ensures the power supply adapts to dynamic load changes, maintaining a stable and appropriate voltage level at all times.
12. A converter according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to interface with an external processor for at least one of providing measurement information to the external processor or receiving from the external processor a parameter used to control the power supply such that the output voltage is selectively user-programmable.
The converter from Claim 1 can communicate with an external processor. It can either send measurement information (like voltage or resistance) to the processor, or receive parameters (like a desired voltage level) from the processor. This allows for user-programmable control of the power supply's output, enabling customized voltage settings based on external requirements or preferences.
13. A method of setting a power supply output voltage for a remote load, the method comprising: determining a first remote load resistance value for the remote load by a controller; computing a first desired power supply output voltage by the controller based on the first determined remote load resistance value and a predetermined maximum current for the power supply; setting the output voltage of the power supply to the first desired output voltage by the controller; determining a second remote load resistance value for the remote load by the controller; computing a second desired power supply output voltage by the controller based on the second determined remote load resistance value and the predetermined maximum current for the power supply; and setting the output voltage of the power supply to the second desired output voltage by the controller, such that the output voltage of the power supply is changed based on a change of remote load resistance value of the remote load.
A method for setting a power supply's output voltage involves: first, determining a remote load resistance value; second, calculating a desired output voltage based on this resistance and a predetermined maximum current; and third, setting the power supply to the calculated voltage. If the load resistance changes, the process repeats, adjusting the output voltage accordingly. This dynamically adapts the power supply to changing load conditions, maintaining a stable and appropriate voltage.
14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein determining the first remote load resistance value comprises: applying a known current to the remote load; measuring voltage across the remote load produced by the known current; and determining the first remote load resistance value based on the known current and the measured voltage.
In the method described in Claim 13, determining the remote load resistance involves applying a known current to the load, measuring the resulting voltage across the load, and calculating the resistance based on Ohm's Law (Resistance = Voltage / Current). This provides an accurate measurement of the load, allowing the power supply to be precisely adjusted.
15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein determining the first remote load resistance value involves use of an analog-to-digital converter.
The method described in Claim 13 uses an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) when determining the remote load resistance. This ADC converts the analog voltage measurements into digital values for processing, enabling accurate calculations of the load resistance and precise control of the power supply's output voltage.
16. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the power supply includes a DC-DC converter on a same chip as the controller.
In the method of Claim 13, the power supply includes a DC-DC converter, and the DC-DC converter is fabricated on the same chip as the controller. This integration reduces size, improves efficiency, and potentially lowers cost by combining the power supply and its control circuitry onto a single piece of silicon.
17. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the power supply includes a power regulator on a same chip as the controller.
In the method of Claim 13, the power supply includes a power regulator, and this power regulator is fabricated on the same chip as the controller. This integration reduces size, improves efficiency, and potentially lowers cost by combining the power supply and its control circuitry onto a single piece of silicon.
18. A method according to claim 13 , wherein setting the output voltage of the power supply includes storing a value used to control the power supply.
In the method described in Claim 13, setting the power supply's output voltage involves storing a specific value that is then used to control the power supply. This stored value acts as the target voltage setting, allowing precise control of the power supply's output based on the calculated load resistance.
19. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising: repeatedly re-determining the remote load resistance value and setting the output voltage of the power supply based on the re-determined remote load resistance value by the controller.
The method described in Claim 13 continuously monitors and adjusts the power supply's output voltage. The remote load resistance is repeatedly re-determined, and the output voltage of the power supply is adjusted based on these updated resistance values. This ensures the power supply adapts to dynamic load changes, maintaining a stable and appropriate voltage level at all times.
20. A system for controlling an output voltage of a power supply, the system comprising: a converter; and an external processor in communication with the converter, wherein at least one of the converter or the external processor is configured to determine a first remote load resistance value for a remote load coupled to the converter, compute a first desired output voltage of the power supply based on the first determined remote load resistance value and a predetermined maximum current, set the output voltage of the power supply to the first desired output voltage, determine a second remote load resistance value for the remote load coupled to the converter, compute a second desired output voltage of the power supply based on the second determined remote load resistance value and the predetermined maximum current, and set the output voltage of the power supply to the second desired output voltage, such that the output voltage of the power supply is changed based on a change of remote load resistance value of the remote load.
A system controls a power supply's output voltage using a converter and an external processor. Either the converter or the processor determines the remote load resistance, calculates a desired output voltage based on this resistance and a pre-set maximum current, and sets the power supply to that voltage. This process repeats if the load resistance changes, adapting the power supply to varying load conditions, and the functionality can be split between the converter and the external processor.
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June 26, 2012
September 26, 2017
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